For years, Phyllis Lawson Jackson has been the “go-to” person for local history. The appeal of a historical perspective, she believes, is that even as history teaches us about the past, it also helps illuminate the present.

When a grant for public radio stations to collaborate with independent media producers came across WYSO general manager Neenah Ellis’ desk, she saw that it would be a perfect opportunity to work with local award-winning documentarians Julia Reichert and Steve Bognar.

Morning may be considered a quiet time for humans, but for birds it’s all about chatting. Male red-winged blackbirds call to their drably dressed counterparts, downy woodpeckers impound their beaks for breakfast nibbles, and goldfinch streak through cedars in their chase as cardinals try to drown them all out with unsubtle piercing refrains.

The Heart of Joy Folkschool, which has been quietly simmering on a back burner, is ready to be served. “It’s come from a lot of people,” said artist Carolion, one of the initial organizers of the school. “It’s been cooking and bubbling for months.”